Improvement in a false twist spindle in a filament false twist crimping machine

ABSTRACT

A false-twist spindle is provided for use in a filament falsetwist crimping machine in which a filament of artificial substance is first heated and then conducted radially into the false-twist spindle, axially through the sleeve and radially out of the same, this false-twist spindle being journalled in the body of the machine and arranged to rotate about its axis and being provided at both ends with friction rings, which present high friction against the filament and which are contacted by the filament along a curved path. The invention is characterized in that between the friction rings the false-twist spindle forms a tube having a diameter smaller than that of the friction rings and the inner surface of which tube is for the false-twist spindle polished, and in that the bearings are placed on the outside of said tube.

United States Patent [1 1 Keto IMPROVEMENT IN A FALSE-TWIST SPINDLE IN A FILAMENT FALSE-TWIST CRIMPING MACHINE [75] Inventor: Kalevi Keto, Kirkkonummi, Finland [73] Assignee: Spinner Osakeyhtio, Karakallio,

Finland [22] Filed: Jan. 20, 1971 [21] Appl. No.: 107,881

52 US. Cl. s7/77.4 [51] Int. Cl. 002g 1/06 [58] Field of Search ..57/77.177.45, 51.6

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,656,290 4/1972 Kuussaari .1 57/77.4 3,327,463 6/l967 Niina et al. 3,535,866 10/1970 Tsuruta et al.. 3,537,250 11/1970 Mackintosh 3,564,833 2/1971 Hollis s 57/77.4

451 July 17,1973

3,066,473 12/1962 Maeda 57/77.4

Primary Examiner-John Petrakes Attorney-Waters, Roditi, Schwartz & Nissen [57] ABSTRACT A false-twist spindle is provided for use in a filament false-twist crimping machine in which a filament of artificial substance is first'heated and then conducted radially into the false-twist spindle, axially through the sleeve and radially out of the same, this false-twist spindle being journalled in the body of themachine and arranged to rotate about its axis and being provided at both ends with friction rings, which present high friction against the filament and which are contacted by the filament along a curved path. The invention is characterized in that between the friction rings the falsetwist spindle forms a tube having a diameter smaller than that of the friction rings and the inner surface of which tube is for the false-twist spindle polished, and in that the bearings are placed on the outside of said tube.

'7 Claims, 3 Drawing Figures IMPROVEMENT IN A FALSE-TWIST SPINDLE IN A FILAMENT FALSE-TWIST CRIMPING MACHINE This invention relates to false-twist spindles for falsetwist crimping machines.

A curling sleeve is known in prior art e.g. from the Swiss Patent No. 378,458. This known false-twist spindle has proved to be excellent. It is the fastest one among false-twist spindles in actual use; that is, it has the highest production capacity.

The production capacity of a false-twist spindle, or the linear speed at which filament is passed through the false-twist spindle, is determined by the peripheral velocity of the inner periphery of the associated friction rings. In order to achieve high production capacity, it is therefore necessary to make the inner diameter of the friction rings as large as possible and to rotate the false-twist spindle at the highest possible speed. In doing this, however, one meets a limit of production capacity in that the bearings of the false-twist spindle tol' erate only a given maximum speed of rotation, and this maximum speed of rotation is smaller as the diameter of the bearings is larger. If the inner diameter of the friction rings is increased, it is also necessary to increase the bearing diameter, from which follows the lowering of the permissible maximum speed of rotation.

The high production capacity of the false-twist spindle known from the Swiss Patent No. 378,458 is based on the fact that the difference between the bearing diameter and the inner diameter of the friction rings has been made as small as possible.

By the aid of the present invention, the above problem is solved in a completely unexpected way so that the production capacity of a false twist spindlecan quite substantially increase. The invention is characterized in that between the friction rings the false-twist spindle is shaped to constitute a tube of a diameter smaller than that of the friction rings, and the inner surface of which is polished, and in that the bearings of the false-twist spindle are placed on the outside of this tube.

According to the invention, the tube may be made so small as to barely allow the filament to be passed through. The bearings may then have quite a small diameter, whereby high maximum speeds of rotation are achievable. In order that the tube might not interfere with the movements of the filament, its inner surface is polished. Hereby, the friction between filament and interior tube surface is negligible so that the tube does not tend to impart any twist to the filament nor to hamper its forward movement.

An advantageous embodiment of the invention is characterized in that the ends of the tube are rounded off on the inside. There is then no risk of any sharp edge on the end of the tube to cut the filament even if the latter should have a weak point.

Another advantageous embodiment of the invention is characterized in that the inner surface of the tube is made resistant to wear, for instance, that it is hard chrome plated.

The invention is dscribed below reference to the attached drawing, wherein:

FIG. 1 shows a false-twist according to one embodiment of the invention, in longitudinal section, and

FIGS. 2 and 3 correspond to FIG. 1 and represent two further embodiments.

In FIG. 1, the reference numeral 1 indicates the filament of artificial substance, which has been heated to partially plastic condition and which is conducted through a thread guide 2 in approximately radial direction into the false-twist spindle. The filament then runs approximately axially through the false-twist spindle and leaves it in approximately radial direction through the thread guide 3, going to a thread drawing device (not shown).

The false-twist spindle, which is shown in approximately correct scale in the drawing, has a central tube 4, the inner surface of which is polished and made wear-resistant, e.g. by hard chrome plating. The inner edges of the ends of the tube 4 are rounded off. To both ends of the tube, there are attached cup-like, outwardly opening elements 5 and 6, to the mouths of which there are fixed friction rings 7 and 8 of V-shaped cross section, which may consist of rubber or plastic, for instance. The diameters of the caps 5 and 6 and of the friction rings 7 and 8 are considerably larger than the diameter of the tube 4. The false-twist spindle is carried in two bearings 9 and 10, which are mounted upon the outer surface of the tube 4 and are carried in the body of the false-twist crimping machine (not shown). The false-twist spindle is rotated about its axis by the aid of a belt 11, passed over a belt pulley 12 mounted upon the outer surface of the tube 4 between the bearings 9 and 10.

When the filament 1 passes through the clear bore of false-twist spindle and this sleeve simultaneously rotates, the filament will roll along the inner surface of the friction rings, whereby in the filament numerous irregular twists and angulations, or curls, are formed. The tube 4, however, the inner surface of which is polished, has no influence whatsoever on the movement of the filament 1, which slides freely with reference to the tube both in axial and peripheral direction.

The false-twist spindle shown in FIG. 2 differs from that presented above merely in that it has been arranged to be rotated directly by means of the electric motor 13, in the rotor 14 of which the tube 4 is axially mounted, and the stator of which, in its turn, is fixed to the body of the false-twist crimping machines (not shown).

The false-twist spindle shown in FIG. 3, again, differs from that shown in FIG. I in that the friction rings 7 and 8 are attached directly to the ends of the tube 4.

It is obvious to anyone skilled in the art that various embodiments of the invention may vary within the scope of the patent claims set forth below.

I claim:

I. A false-twist spindle in a false twist crimping ma chine in which a filament of artificial material is first heated and subsequently conducted in radial direction into the false-twist spindle, axially through the spindle and in radial direction out of the same, the false-twist spindle being journalled in the false-twist crimping machine and arranged to rotate about its axis, said falsetwist spindle comprising spaced friction rings, which present a relatively high friction to the filament and which are contacted by the filament along a curved path, and a tube extending between the friction rings, said tube having an internal diameter smaller than that of the friction rings and further having a polished inner surface and a clear bore and bearings on the outside of said tube whereby the tube and rings can be rotated, said rings being spaced endwise from said tube and 5. A false-twist spindle according to claim 1 wherein the bearings have a smaller outer diameter than said ring.

6. A false-twist spindle according to claim 1 comprising belt and pulley means on said tube to rotate the same.

7. A false-twist spindle according to claim 1 comprising an electric motor on said tube to rotate the same. i 

1. A false-twist spindle in a false twist crimping machine in which a filament of artificial material is first heated and subsequently conducted in radial direction into the false-twist spindle, axially through the spindle and in radial direction out of the same, the false-twist spindle being journalled in the false-twist crimping machine and arranged to rotate about its axis, said false-twist spindle comprising spaced friction rings, which present a relatively high friction to the filament and which are contacted by the filament along a curved path, and a tube extending between the friction rings, said tube having an internal diameter smaller than that of the friction rings and further having a polished inner Surface and a clear bore and bearings on the outside of said tube whereby the tube and rings can be rotated, said rings being spaced endwise from said tube and such that spaces are provided between where the filament contacts the tube and respective of the rings.
 2. A false-twist spindle according to claim 1 wherein the tube includes rounded internal end portions.
 3. A false-twist spindle according to claim 1 wherein the inner surface of the tube is plated to resist wear.
 4. A false-twist spindle according to claim 1 comprising cup-like, outwardly opening elements attached to opposite ends of said tube and the friction rings are attached to said cups.
 5. A false-twist spindle according to claim 1 wherein the bearings have a smaller outer diameter than said ring.
 6. A false-twist spindle according to claim 1 comprising belt and pulley means on said tube to rotate the same.
 7. A false-twist spindle according to claim 1 comprising an electric motor on said tube to rotate the same. 